OTT player Viber updates app, launches ‘viber out’ worldwide

Viber Out enables all Viber users to call anyone worldwideat low rateson Android, iPhone and Desktop, coming to Windows Phone in the future. Purchasing credit for Viber Out can be completed either through a simple in-app purchase via either the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store or using a credit card via Viber Desktop.10 December 2013, 4:53 PM IST

NEW DELHI: Viber has released Viber 4.1 for Android and iPhone which includes the full global launch of Viber Out, a new feature that allows users to make low-cost calls to any mobile or landline phone number.

Viber had previously enabled Viber Out for users in the Philippinesin the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan to help users contactfriends and loved ones.To provide free calls from the Philippines for free, Viber partnered with telcos across the world including Telecom Austria, Telecom New Zealand, Hutchison, Bharti Airtel, Telecom Italia, Citic, NetvisionCellcom,Mada Communication and Omantel. Viber also partnered with Globe Telecom to allow users worldwide tocall the Philippines for free.

Now with the official worldwide launch, Viber Out enables all Viber users to call anyone worldwideat low rateson Android, iPhone and Desktop, coming to Windows Phone in the future. Purchasing credit for Viber Out can be completed either through a simple in-app purchase via either the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store or using a credit card via Viber Desktop. Additionally, Viber Out has a significantly lower price-per-call than other competing services due to lower per minute rates and the omission of connection fees.

"Viber Out gives our millions of users a new way to use Viber and ensures that they can reach any contact at any time," said Talmon Marco, CEO of Viber."We will continue to improve Viber Out, keeping our users connected at the most affordable rates possible."

Unlike competing services, Viber Out displays your real phone number to the recipient so he or she knows who is calling. Further, Viber Out on Desktop has your phone's address book so you don't have to remember numbers or dial them manually.

Viber Out joins the Viber Sticker Market as the app's second paid feature. As part of this release, Viber added new stickers and will continue to add more content. Viber also released a new promotional video highlighting one of its signature characters - Violet.

Reliance Jio Infocomm has outlined a Rs1 lac crore investment plan in the lead up to its commercial 4G launch around December, three quarters of which it has already spent, and said that it is open to M&A and spectrum sharing and trading for adding more airwaves to its kitty.